Vacuum cooler and method of cleaning the same



1 1947- A. H. HEINEIMIA'N 2,420,396

VACUUM COOLER AND METHOD OF CLEANING THE SAME Filed July 12, 1945 Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM COOLER AND METHOD OF CLEANING THE SAME Arnold H. Heineman, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Guardite Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application July 12, 1945, Serial lilo. 604,637

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-152) 3 is a plan view taken along the line 33 in Figure 1.

The multi-stage cooler comprises a shell l sufliciently strong to withstand a substantially total vacuum. The shell contains five superimposed cooling chambers, of which one chamber H and a portion of the adjacent upper chamber Ha are illustrated. Each chamber is connected through a vacuum line l2 to a suitable vacuum' pump or other evacuating means, preferably a multi-stage steam jet. The bottom of each chamber'is formed by a plate I 3 which, except in the case of the lowermost chamber, is also roof for sealing of the immediately lower chamber. This plate serves to collect the unevaporated liquid which is directed to the nozzle l4 and from there passes into the next lower chamber. The nozzle sprays the liquid into the lower chamber through a restricted orifice 30. A liquid level is of course maintained above the nozzle outlet.

In a typical installation distillery slop would be introduced to the uppermost chamber at approximately 197 F., while a pressure of 6.68 inches of mercury is maintained therein. The temperature is thus immediately reduced to 145 F. and the distillery mash is introduced into the chamber at this temperature. The mixture flows into the succeeding chamber which is maintained at 3.95 inches of mercury and a temperature of 120 F. is immediately produced. The residual liquid flows to the third chamber in which a pressure of 2.24 inches of mercury and a temperature of 100 F. is produced. The residual liquid flows to the fourth chamber where a pressure of 1.41 inches of mercury and a tem-- to the generation of steam. With the arrangement here shown these particles tend to be carried over into the evacuation line and to spatter over the sides of the vessel. The present arrangement directs the particles into the proper channels and also confines the liquid during the time that the flashing of steam'occurs.

As best shown in Figure 2 a splash shield I5 is welded to the ends of the nozzle. This splash shield comprises a horizontal plate I6 and an annular edge portion H which slopes downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 65. Underneath the shield is a splash plate 18 having an apex l-9 immediately beneath the center of the nozzle at about 2 inches below the lowermost end thereof. The upper surface of this plate is divided intotwo sloping edges 20, each of which slopes downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 15. This plate i carried on the pedestal 2! which in turn is mounted on an umbrella-like base 22 which has an open upper surface 24 and edges 25 which slope downwardly and outwardly, the angle with the horizontal being about 30.

A typical example in which the nozzle is 3 inches inside diameter, the splash shield is 27 inches in diameter in the horizontal portion thereof, and the edges are 13 inches wide, measuring from the inner edge to the tip, and 10% inches deep. The width from the inner edge to the inner edge of the lowermost portion is approximately 44 inches.

The splash plate I8 is 1'7 inches across, 3 inches in height, and the upper surfaces thereof slope Zinches downwardly from the apex l9 to the edge of the plate.

The base 22 is approximately '7 feet across at the bottom and 1 foot in depth. The open top portion thereof is approximately 3 /2 feet in diameter.

The dimensions of the splash plate and the splash shield are such that the liquid coming through the nozzle is directed downwardly onto the outer edges 25 of the base 22.

It will be observed that the liquid. is brought into the expansion chamber or cooling chamber I I under an internal pressure much greater than that prevailing in the chamber and that as a result an explosion occurs which cools the liquid and divides it into small particles. The purpose of the ,shield and splash plate is to establish a shielded area within which the explosion occurs and from which the exploded liquid in small particles is directed in a predetermined direction after the explosion has been completed. All explosions occur where the resulting particles one material to another without contaminating the new material. I have found that this may very simply be done by including in the structure heretofore described means for directing hot water into the chamber independently of the nozzle supply, and through an unrestricted orifice. Preferably means are provided for downwardly directing a stream .of water above the nozzle and onto the shield, as through the pipe 3| which is fixed in position and has an opening approximately 2% inches in internal diameter. It is -fixed in position above the plate l6 and directs a stream of water thereon. The water introduced ispreferably of such temperature. as to explode when introduced under the vacuum conditions of the chamber, which are maintained during the cleaning operation. Water directed through the pipe 3| thoroughly cleans the upper side of the shield H, the cone, and the walls of the chamber. 7

The base is mounted on a spider 21 having a hub 28 and it is preferred to introduce the second cleaning liquid immediately below this point, as through the pipe 29 which is upwardly directed and is of the same size as the pipe 3|. This stream of liquid cleans the underside of the various members.

The foregoing detailed description hasbeen given for clearnes of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a multi-stage vacuum cooler a series of superposed vacuum chambers, a tray in the bottom of one chamber forming a portion of the roof 4 2. A vacuum cooler as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the means for inf oducing cleaning liquid is downwardly directed immediately adjacent the shield.

3. A cooler as set forth in claim 1, character- .ized by means provided. for introducing two streams of cleaning liquid independent'of the nozzle, one being downwardly directed adjacent and above the shield and the other being upwardly directed from a point well below the shield means.

4. In a multi-stage vacuum cooler, a series of superposed vacuum chambers, a tray in the bottom of one chamber forming a portion of the roof of the next lower chamber, said tray being adapted to contain a portion of the liquid being cooled, a nozzle communicating with the tray beneath the liquid level and opening into the next lower chamber, a shield about the nozzle having a horizontal portion adjacent the nozzle, a splash plate within the shield immediately below the nozzle and having edge portions outwardly and downwardly inclined and terminating well within the shield, and downwardly directed means immediately above the shield independent of the nozzle .for supplying a stream of hot cleaning liquid thereto under explosive conditions.

5. A cooler as set forth in claim 4, in which there is also provided upwardly directed means for supplying a stream of hot water well below the splash plate.

6. The method of cleaning a multiple-stage vacuum cooler having a plurality of superposed chambers therein in which each of the chambers except the bottom chamber drainsinto the next lower chamber and each chamber is provided with separate evacuating means, which comprises reducing the pressure in the chamber, and then introducing a hot cleaning liquid thereto,

whereby the cleaning liquid explodes, the cleaning liquid being introduced from fixed unrestricted orifices directed toward each other.

ARNOLD H. HEINEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,483,990 Schmidt Feb. 19, 1924 2,064,609 Humble Dec. 15, 1936 

